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Nine hours after the fire started, it was still burning along 3 miles of Route 9.

More than 100 firefighters from a dozen departments were fighting the fire, and helicopters from JBI Helicopter Services dumped water from a nearby lake. A National Guard Blackhawk joined the effort early Thursday evening.

Because of dangerous terrain and snags, firefighters ceased actively fighting the fire Thursday night but will resume Friday morning.

Residents of 17 homes on Tarbox and Juniper Hill roads were evacuated.

The American Red Cross opened a temporary shelter at Keene Recreational Center.

Firefighters said the flames are up to 12 feet high in places. The state activated its Emergency Operations Center due to the fire.

"Obviously, right now, the concern is getting this fire to our containment so that we can work on the fire itself rather than it working on us," said Stoddard Forest Fire Warden Joe Sarcione.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Wednesday that fires were possible because of dry, windy conditions.

Officials said they are investigating the fire as arson.

Sarcione said two people on trail bikes were spotted setting fires before this fire took off Thursday afternoon.

"We want that out there, just so if they're watching this, they know we're on to them," said Sarcione.

He said neighbors in Stoddard are worried.

"We were working on an evacuation plan for tomorrow in case this thing blows up and moves to the center of town," said Sarcione.

Firefighters told Robert Driscoll and his sister that they had to leave her home on Juniper Hill Road because the fire could reach her front door.

"Doesn't bother me. It's her house," said Driscoll.

The fire is the sixth brush fire in Stoddard in the past week and is one of several brush fires burning across the state in areas, including Charlestown, Langdon and Litchfield.

According to the Department of Safety, three firefighters have had minor injuries this week -- none of which were reported Thursday.

Officials said both firefighters and Red Cross volunteers are spent.

"Our volunteers are nervous. It's a dry spring, so everybody sees the writing on the wall and knows that we're going to have to hunker down and be ready all the time," said Lloyd Zeil, of the American Red Cross.